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[Pag23]

This may be off topic but I was in a similar situation a little over a year ago. Here it is.

I was driving home from work in York off of Philadelphia St. I was working at the time as an unarmed security officer but had my ACT-235 and my LCTF. I also drove a decommissioned 2006 Dodge Charger police edition with a spotlight on the drivers post.

I was stopped at a stoplight and a York police officer pulled up behind me, got out of his marked truck and approached my open window. The light turned green but because the officer was approaching I did not move. When he got to my window he asked me to pull over, mind you he never put his lights on, but I complied, drove through the intersection and pulled into a parking lot near a bank. When he got out to talk to me after I was parked he told me he suspected me of impersonating a police officer the night before, and "I was pulling people over". First thing I said to him was that I was carrying and that I was legal to do so. I told him that it would be impossible for me to do what he said because I don't have any business being in York after I leave work. I also stated that I was up playing video games at my house until 11pm.

At this point he wanted my info, I gave him my DL, LTCF, ACT-235 card, insurance and registration. While he was running that info four other patrol cars showed up and one officer was staring at me through the passenger side window. They asked me to get out of the car, which I did carefully and I offered them my sidearm, which they removed from my holster to check if it was legal. The officers even wanted to inspect my car looking for prohibited lights or sirens, which I allowed them to do. After about 30 minutes the initial officer who stopped me said everything checked out but he still suspected me of a crime and that "I would be called by detectives at a later time".

Needless to say, that officer was a douche but he was just doing his job. I have no issues with the police because it's a hard job they have to do but this one could have showed a little decorum as I was nothing but honest and cooperative.

I never did receive a call. Sorry for that being so long but I wanted to give as much detail as possible without getting overly detailed.

Personally I would have been polite as possible.. but I don't consent to unlawful searches.... or offering more information than they need to know without the presence of atty.. whether accused or not..
Driving an decommissed Charger with the spotlight and possible BDU's.... also probably didn't help the situation..

[spandexlurch]

You're new here, aren't you?

Yes, I'm new here, and I figured it would make the police officers feel at ease that I offered them my sidearm. I was trying to be polite and not escalate the situation because I had nothing to hide.

[john9001]

I think that's backwards, the cop should make the citizen feel at ease. The cop has a gun, handcuffs and the power to arrest, what does the citizen have?

to serve and protect

[free]

what does the citizen have?

The cop doesn't know. That's what makes him nervous.

[Sgt.K]

You're new here, aren't you?

Yes, I'm new here, and I figured it would make the police officers feel at ease that I offered them my sidearm. I was trying to be polite and not escalate the situation because I had nothing to hide.

I'm not slamming you, though there are some long-time members here who would. You're gonna want to spend some time reading through the archives to see why:

a) there is ZERO reason for them to determine if the gun is legal. Unless they have a reasonable articulable suspicion that you stole the gun, and they want to check the serial number against a list of stolen firearms, any other research into the gun (e.g. running the number against the "not a registry" Record of Sale database to see if you bought it) is inappropriate.

b) anyone fingerf#$%ing an unfamiliar gun at the roadside (or, alternately, on a SEPTA subway platform http://forum.pafoa.org/showthread.php?t=216917 ) is a screaming invitation for a negligent discharge. There are enough incidents of guns firing in the holster when the wearer is handling the gun - how much more likely is it when someone *other* than the wearer tries to get it out? Especially from a snug IWB holster?

c) the best way to handle your gun is to NOT. "Officer(s), the safest place for any gun is in its holster with the trigger covered. How about I leave mine in my holster and you do the same?"

Other lessons are all over the forum. These were jus the first few to come to mind.

[Berncly]

.

[ungawa]

This may be off topic but I was in a similar situation a little over a year ago. Here it is.

I was driving home from work in York off of Philadelphia St. I was working at the time as an unarmed security officer but had my ACT-235 and my LCTF. I also drove a decommissioned 2006 Dodge Charger police edition with a spotlight on the drivers post.

I was stopped at a stoplight and a York police officer pulled up behind me, got out of his marked truck and approached my open window. The light turned green but because the officer was approaching I did not move. When he got to my window he asked me to pull over, mind you he never put his lights on, but I complied, drove through the intersection and pulled into a parking lot near a bank. When he got out to talk to me after I was parked he told me he suspected me of impersonating a police officer the night before, and "I was pulling people over". First thing I said to him was that I was carrying and that I was legal to do so. I told him that it would be impossible for me to do what he said because I don't have any business being in York after I leave work. I also stated that I was up playing video games at my house until 11pm.

At this point he wanted my info, I gave him my DL, LTCF, ACT-235 card, insurance and registration. While he was running that info four other patrol cars showed up and one officer was staring at me through the passenger side window. They asked me to get out of the car, which I did carefully and I offered them my sidearm, which they removed from my holster to check if it was legal. The officers even wanted to inspect my car looking for prohibited lights or sirens, which I allowed them to do. After about 30 minutes the initial officer who stopped me said everything checked out but he still suspected me of a crime and that "I would be called by detectives at a later time".

Needless to say, that officer was a douche but he was just doing his job. I have no issues with the police because it's a hard job they have to do but this one could have showed a little decorum as I was nothing but honest and cooperative.

I never did receive a call. Sorry for that being so long but I wanted to give as much detail as possible without getting overly detailed.

5 cars?

You aint seen shit. Try The Blues Brothers with spike strips and US Highways shutdown.

[spandexlurch]

I'm not slamming you, though there are some long-time members here who would. You're gonna want to spend some time reading through the archives to see why:

a) there is ZERO reason for them to determine if the gun is legal. Unless they have a reasonable articulable suspicion that you stole the gun, and they want to check the serial number against a list of stolen firearms, any other research into the gun (e.g. running the number against the "not a registry" Record of Sale database to see if you bought it) is inappropriate.

b) anyone fingerf#$%ing an unfamiliar gun at the roadside (or, alternately, on a SEPTA subway platform http://forum.pafoa.org/showthread.php?t=216917 ) is a screaming invitation for a negligent discharge. There are enough incidents of guns firing in the holster when the wearer is handling the gun - how much more likely is it when someone *other* than the wearer tries to get it out? Especially from a snug IWB holster?

c) the best way to handle your gun is to NOT. "Officer(s), the safest place for any gun is in its holster with the trigger covered. How about I leave mine in my holster and you do the same?"

Other lessons are all over the forum. These were jus the first few to come to mind.

I didn't think you were slamming me. They had said "my car matched a description of the offending vehicle from the night before". I took that as a reasonable suspicion. Also I made extra certain that the officer that removed my M&P 9 knew that there was one in the chamber. I can understand some would think it was unreasonable but I work as an armed security officer and I know what it's like to deal with the "unkown variable".

[RockIsland]

[JAKIII]

Comments in this thread from active and former LE are very interesting... and useful.

Sort of off topic, but don't many DUIs start as a headlight or taillight out, (i.e., car reeks of liquor or weed)? Years ago I worked p/t security at a gated community and I could tell immediately who had been drinking once the car window was rolled down.